Explore the world with your Clemson family

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Wayne and Shirley Bennett hosted this group of 21 for the Clemson Alumni Danube Cruise this past year. Their enthusiasm is infectious as they talk about the cities they explored, the things they learned, the people they enjoyed and the comforts of cruising down the Danube River through eight countries and 12 cities. A particular highlight was having a Clemson expert along to share tidbits about the history and culture of the areas in which they were traveling.
Alumni trips offer unequaled access, educational value and the knowledge of Clemson experts to enrich your experience. You can relax, explore and immerse yourself in dream destinations without having to worry about making arrangements and reservations.
Has the travel bug bitten you? Trips this year include Alaska, the Swiss Alps, the Pacific Northwest and Nashville. Contact Randy Boatwright at brandol@clemson.edu for more information.

Clemson Alumni Association Board 2014-15

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Danny E. Gregg ’71, president Clemson, dgregg48@gmail.com
Sandy Edge ’72, president-elect Clemson, sedge@clemson.edu
Ann W. Hunter ’80, M ’82, past president Greenwood, ann.hunter@alumni.clemson.edu
Larry Sloan ’74, Foundation Clemson, larrysloan@alumni.clemson.edu
Josh Bell ’08 Charleston, josh.bell@teachforamerica.org
Michael Coakley ’91 Arlington, Va., mdcoakley67@gmail.com
Mary Kathryn Dempsey ’08 Charleston, dempsey.mk@gmail.com
Mark Derrick ’91 Gaithersburg, Md., mark.derrick@xerox.com
Mike Dowling ’93 Greer, mdowling@southernfirst.com
Patsy DuPre ’80 Hendersonville, N.C., patsydupre@aol.com
O. Alex “Bud” Hicklin III ’85 Clemson, ohicklin@alumni.clemson.edu
Joe Hood ’97 Atlanta, joe.hood@alumni.clemson.edu
Heather Jones ’97, M ’12 Columbia, hsjones1@gmail.com
Heather Mitsopoulos ’03 Fort Mill, heathermits@alumni.clemson.edu
Greg Morton ’78 Clemson, gm6467@att.com
Mary Ann “Ma” Prater ’78, M ’83 Clemson, annieoakleyknits@gmail.com
Mac Renfro ’87 Cincinnati, Ohio, mfrenfro@initiatorfirst.com
Ron Taylor ’65 Midland, Mich., retaylor1943@hotmail.com

Ex-Officio members

Wil Brasington ’00, Alumni Relations senior director, Clemson, wil@clemson.edu
Fred Faircloth III ’72, IPTAY Rock Hill, fred_rhcoke@comporium.net
Nicky McCarter ’80, Board of Trustees, Columbia
Brian J. O’Rourke ’83, M ’85 Clemson, orourke@clemson.edu

Clemson’s alumni network ranks first

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Clemson has the best alumni network among the nation’s Best Value colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review. In its new book, Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Best Value Colleges and What It Takes to Get In — 2015 Edition, The Princeton Review ranks Clemson’s alumni network No. 1. Clemson ranked in three of the six categories which include public and private schools.
Clemson’s ranking was based on data and student surveys about the activities and visibility of alumni and the percentage of alumni who recommend Clemson to prospective students. Clemson also was ranked 19th in internship opportunities and 25th in Colleges That Pay You Back — Without Aid.
Widely known for its test prep and academic tutoring services as well as its dozens of categories of college rankings, The Princeton Review developed a unique “Return-on-Education” (ROE) rating to winnow its list of colleges for this book. ROE measures 40 weighted data points ranging from academics, cost, financial aid and student debt to statistics on graduation rates, alumni salaries and job satisfaction.

CLUB ACTIVITIES: Tigers in Detroit

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When Jen Volpe relocated from Atlanta to Detroit in 2014, she began looking for some fellow members of the Clemson Family. Although there was no active club, she worked with the Alumni Association and found that there were more than 300 local Clemson alums and friends in the area. These Detroit Tigers are now working through the process of becoming an official Clemson Club.
In December, area alumni gathered to volunteer for Forgotten Harvest, an organization dedicated to relieving hunger in metro Detroit and preventing food waste by “rescuing” surplus prepared and perishable food. Members of the group packaged more than 1,000 pounds of potatoes that were then distributed to those in need.
For more information about how to get involved with a local Clemson club, or to begin one in your area, contact Bubba Britton at bubba@clemson.edu or go to clemson.edu/alumni and click on “Join a Clemson Club.”

Bryn Smith ’02 Named Volunteer of the Year

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Vol-of-year-BSmith-2014

At the end of the first quarter of the Syracuse football game, the Alumni Association honored Bryn Smith ’02 with the Volunteer of the Year Award, the highest and greatest expression of appreciation extended to an individual by the Alumni Association staff for outstanding service and volunteerism.
After graduating in 2002, Smith moved to New York, where she worked to build a network of Clemson alumni and chartered the New York/Tri-State Clemson Club. She has played a pivotal role in assisting alumni as well as students in her area, helping them to relocate, find internships and expand their careers.

Meet Danny Gregg ’71, Alumni Association President

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Danny Gregg has lived in a number of places since graduating from Clemson in 1971 — from Columbia to Charleston to Washington, D.C., to New Jersey — but he always knew he would find his way back to Clemson.
As a student, Gregg was very active as a cheerleader, a member of student government — he was elected vice president of the student body — and a member of Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key honor society. He was also a member of the Numeral Society, which became Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity during his junior year. As an alumnus, he has remained just as active and engaged.
Throughout all his moves, he found ways to be connected to Clemson through local Clemson clubs, but once he moved back to Clemson at age 45, he was able to get involved with the University at a higher level.
After chairing several committees for the Alumni Association board of directors, Gregg was chosen as president-elect in 2012, with his two-year presidential term starting in 2014.
Gregg’s involvement doesn’t end with the Alumni Association. He is a member and past president of the Fort Hill Clemson Club, served as an adviser for his fraternity and has recently begun serving as a mentor for Clemson’s FIRST Program, which offers special resources for first-generation college students.
Like many of his fellow alumni, Gregg describes himself as “dedicated and loyal” and says that he got a lot more out of his Clemson experience than his bachelor’s degree.
“Maybe I should have spent more time in the library and less time doing other activities, like student government and cheerleading, but I’m not sorry at all for the way I did it,” he said. “The relationships that I built outside of the classroom have lasted me a lifetime, and I’m thankful for them.”
 

Young Alumni Recognize This Year's Roaring 10

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In October, the Young Alumni Council named their newest rising stars: the Roaring 10. These alumni have made an impact in business, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors, while exemplifying Clemson’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect.
Tripp James ’02, M ’04 has founded, operated and harvested several successful small businesses and currently serves as small-business programs manager for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Leadership Greenville, he has heavily invested his time and talent in PULSE, Greenville’s organization for young professionals. A member of the College of Business and Behavioral Science Alumni Loyalty Board, he serves as a mentor for students.
Hannah Hopkins Pittman ’03, M ’13 is director of professional development for the S.C. Association of School Administrators. Treasurer of the Columbia Clemson Club since 2011, Pittman led efforts to fund a $25,000 scholarship endowment that revitalized the involvement of Richland County alumni. A member of Women’s Alumni Council, Pittman planned and coordinated this year’s “Bring Your Daughter to Clemson” weekend that raised approximately $8,000 for scholarships.
Steven Foushee ’05 is a project manager for Moss 7 Associates, a construction management firm in Greenville. He is the youngest of only seven registered Design-Build Institute of America professionals in the state. A volunteer with the U.S. Green Building Council’s South Carolina chapter, he was in charge of education and outreach for green building initiatives. He is a member of Clemson’s Construction Science Management Industry Advisory Board.
Tia Nicole Williams ’05 is owner and operator of the SERVPRO franchise in Cayce, West Columbia and Lexington. She also is owner and editor of the Lexington Anchor, a monthly online publication. Former secretary and current treasurer of the Columbia Clemson Club, Williams is communications chair of the state Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council and a company adviser for the state Chamber of Commerce Business Week, teaching high school students about business.
George Magrath II ’06 is completing a two-year ocular oncology fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. During his time at the Medical University of South Carolina, he was the first resident in South Carolina to perform laser-assisted cataract surgery. He developed web application algorithms for diagnosing complex eye diseases, melanoma and ocular inflammation, which were featured in Review of Ophthalmology and Ocular Surgery News.
Thomas Rhodes ’06 heads his family business, Rhodes Graduation Services, and is owner of Sumter Advertising Company and chief operating officer of Custom Bike Rings in Summerton. He designed the 2014 Clemson Orange Bowl Ring for Coach Dabo Swinney. Last year, he helped establish the Clemson Distinguished Athletes Award to honor former athletes who are making a difference in their communities through non-athletic endeavors.
Brian Ammons ’08 works in investor relations with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan. In 2012 he was one of six people to receive the company’s highest award in both sales and marketing. A board member of Give Us Names, a nonprofit organization formed by Clemson alumni, he spearheaded a partnership with a Chicago-based theater company founded by alumni to donate profits from a stage production to the charitable organization.
Mary Kathryn (MK) Dempsey ’08 is a senior fundraising consultant for Blackbaud in Charleston. A member of the Charleston Junior League and Clemson in the Lowcountry, she volunteers with the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center. Dempsey devoted a lot of time to the Young Alumni Council — as a representative, at-large member and president. She is vice chair of the Alumni Council Engagement Committee and serves on the Alumni Board of Directors.
Laneika K. Musalini  M ’11 is director of grants at Tri-County Technical College and a grants writer and administrator for Community Colleges of Appalachia. She also is founder and CEO of Women’s Empowerment. The 2013 recipient of Clemson’s MLK Award for Excellence in Service-Community Member, she was awarded the Duke Energy/Clemson University Center for Workforce Development STEM Innovator Award in 2012.
Raven Magwood ’12 graduated from Clemson at the age of 19 with a 4.0 GPA. She published her first book at age 12 and followed that up with another during college, 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes. Magwood has written a screenplay, “Switching Lanes,” scheduled to be released as a feature film later this year, and travels as a motivational speaker.

D.C./Baltimore

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The D.C./Baltimore Club had two major events with President Clements last fall. In September, more than 200 guests gathered for “A Night with Clemson on Capitol Hill,” featuring remarks from Ambassador David Wilkins, President Clements and the chair of the regional board, David Rochester ’68.  Members of the Board of Visitors attended after spending a day on Capitol Hill.
In October, more than 100 members of the club, as well as President and Mrs. Clements, were guests at a reception at the Belgian ambassador’s private residence in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Johan Verbeke was appointed in January 2014, and his social secretary is Gwenda De Moor, a member of the Regional Board of Directors and parent to Clemson alumnus Vinny Brown ’11, M ’14.  The reception featured authentic Belgian cuisine and beer, and the program focused on educational, cultural and professional connections between Belgium and Clemson.
 

Boston

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More than 600 alumni and fans gathered in Boston for the Paws on the Claws event at Top of the Hub Restaurant in October. The group enjoyed fun and food as they prepared to take on the Boston College Eagles the next day in an exciting showdown on the gridiron. President Clements addressed the group and gave updates on the state of the University and Clemson’s strong alumni presence and athletic success in Boston.